Manchester United v Hull City: Marco Silva mines two late Tigers signings

he brought in Rennes winger Kamil Grosicki for £8m just minutes before the 11pm closing of the transfer window after earlier signing Villarreal defensive midfielder Alfred N’Diaye and Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia on loan.

Hull had hoped to get one more deal through before the cut-off point, but were left frustrated after earlier missing out on Watford midfielder Adlene Guedioura after he opted to join Middlesbrough despite the East Yorkshire club agreeing a £3m fee.

Max Gradel was another on Silva’s list, although very much seen as a back-up option if Poland international Grosicki could not be lured to the East Riding.

Heading out of the KCOM on deadline day were Alex Bruce and James Weir, but in an unexpected twist Andrew Robertson stayed after the Tigers’ head coach made it clear the left-back could not leave despite Burnley having made a £10m bid.

With Evandro, Oumar Niasse, Omar Elabdellaoui and Lazar Markovic having already joined, yesterday’s late business means Silva, only appointed on January 5, has overseen a big change in personnel during a month that saw Robert Snodgrass and Jake Livermore leave for a combined £20.2m.

Whether the changes will be enough to keep Hull up remains to be seen, but their position became more perilous last night thanks to victories for Crystal Palace and Swansea City plus Sunderland’s goalless draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

The upshot is Hull will head to Manchester United propping up the top flight and desperately in need of a positive result.

For Sam Clucas, the third meeting between the two sides inside 23 days will be yet another chance to test himself against the club he supported as a boy.

“I felt like a mascot in the first game,” said the Tigers midfielder about the League Cup semi-final first leg won 2-0 by the hosts at Old Trafford. “I wanted to walk out with Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) and hold his hand.

“One of my dreams was always to play at Old Trafford. I never thought I would get there from where I have come from.

“The whole family have been United fans since I have been born so that is how I got into them. It was a bit strange (to play at Old Trafford) and a dream come true. I had been to watch endless games in that stadium and when you are on the pitch looking up it is a totally different scene from when you are looking down watching.

“But you have to change your mentality because you are not there to take in the scenery. You are there to get three points. If we were mid-table and safe I could maybe afford to take it all in, but I will only be focused on the game in hand.”

Collecting all three points is the target tonight for a Hull side fresh from earning a first win over the Red Devils in a little over 42 years, albeit with the caveat that it was not enough to prevent Jose Mourinho’s side progressing to Wembley via a 3-2 aggregate triumph.

Along with chasing what would be a vital victory, Clucas could also add to his collection of United shirts.

“I got a couple (after the two recent games),” he added. “I got Wayne Rooney’s shirt. An absolute United legend so I couldn’t miss the opportunity to get his shirt. I don’t really go into games thinking whose shirt I’m going to get, it is just something that happens after a game.

“It was James Weir who actually got (Rooney’s) shirt for me. I am too shy to go in their dressing room. I don’t really like asking players in case they say no and I am never sure whether to give them mine. It’ll probably end up in their bathroom.”

If Hull can end a seven-game losing run at Old Trafford, Silva’s reputation will be boosted further after an encouraging start that has seen the squad clearly take on board the Portuguese’s ideas.

“He has come in and been brilliant from day one,” added Clucas. “We have been out on the training ground, working on his philosophies and how he wants to play. He likes to get us in the classroom as well, working on video analysis.

“But he has also instilled confidence in all of the team. He believes we are going to stay up and he has put that belief into the players. I don’t think we ever let go of that but the performances have shown that in us recently.

“We were on a run (before Silva arrived) where it takes confidence away from you, including the supporters and players.

“Everyone was writing us off back then saying we had got no chance and were down. But we have been revitalised with a new manager coming in.”

Last six games: Manchester United WWDDLW Hull City DLWLWL.

Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).

Last time: Manchester United 2 Hull City 0; January 10, 2017; League Cup.